Michael Regan has officially been confirmed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a 66-34 vote Wednesday by the U.S. Senate. Regan comes to EPA after serving as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. During his confirmation hearing, Regan emphasized that the “RFS is definitely a priority for this administration.” U.S. biofuels organizations are thrilled …
Vilsack Sees Future for Renewable Fuels
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sees a continued need for biofuels in the future. “Most of you will still be around 20 or 30 years from now and I think you’re still going to have a need for and a higher demand for renewable fuels,” said Vilsack in a virtual appearance concluding the 2021 Commodity Classic Special Edition last …
House Biofuels Caucus Announces Two New Bills
The co-chairs of the House Biofuels Caucus have introduced two new pieces of legislation to increase access to biofuels and to fully recognize the environmental benefits. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) introduced the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act, which would expand access to higher blends of biofuels. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) was the …
Vilsack Stresses Importance of Strong RFS
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack started his first full week of work Monday addressing the National Farmers Union’s virtual convention, the first of many appearances he will likely be making to agricultural organizations. As secretary under the Obama Administration for eight years, Vilsack made an effort to attend as many agriculture and biofuel related events as possible each year. Secretary …
Biofuels Groups Oppose General RFS Waivers
Biofuels organizations filed comments this week opposing requests from refiners, several state governors, and an environmental organization that the Environmental Protection Agency waive 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes. “None of the petitions provides the required evidence that the RFS itself is causing economic or environmental harm. In fact, the requests point to the continuing coronavirus emergency as the …
Governor’s Coalition Asks President to Support Biofuels
The Chair of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sent a letter to President Joe Biden this week urging him to take two administrative steps to ensure the future of the states’ biofuels community. One would be to issue an Executive Order banning the use of aromatics in gasoline. Such an order, enforcing a largely ignored provision in …
Senators Reintroduce Biofuels Infrastructure Bill
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) this week reintroduced bipartisan legislation to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program and streamline regulatory requirements to help fuel retailers sell higher blends of ethanol. The Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act would authorize $500 million over 5 years for infrastructure grants for fuel retailers and direct the Administrator …
Biofuels Impact on Iowa Economy Still Strong
A new study finds last year’s many challenges reduced the positive impact of biofuels on the Iowa economy, but the production of ethanol and biodiesel still accounts for nearly $4 billion in state GDP. The study, authored by John Urbanchuk of ABF Economics and commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), found the state biofuels industry also supports 37,000 …
AFBF Economist Sees Challenges for Ethanol Industry
The ethanol industry is continuing to feel the impact of COVID-19 as the pandemic enters a second year of global disruption. American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist John Newton, speaking Thursday at the virtual 57th annual Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual meeting, said ethanol production has taken a major hit in the last year. “From the beginning of 2020 …
Senators Reintroduce Adopt GREET Act
Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) this week reintroduced the Adopt GREET Act which would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. Specifically, the bill would require EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model for both fuels. EPA …